We are currently waiting for Alaska's final health test results to come back (apparently they should be back within two weeks).

Anyway, I now have 4 potential stud dogs that I would like to contact as I would hopefully like Alaska to go to stud at the end of October/November depending on her seasons.

Here is a run down of the dogs health tests and personal notes on them.

Stud dog 1: Was the dog that Alaska's breeder pointed us to.

Stud dog 1's health tests:
5/4 = 9
eye exam - clear.
He is not DNA CEA tested.

Stud dog 2: Is my mentors dog. Fantastic dog, beautiful, good lines.
DNA CEA – CARRIER
MDR1 –clear
2/3=5
eye exam clear.
If Alaska comes back as a carrier we will not be able to use him.

Stud dog 3: Great dog, beautiful....however he's only currently 12months old and is not yet fully health tested though I can assure you he will be. He is not up for stud yet.
DNA CEA - CLEAR.

Stud dog 4: Great dog, health tests are GREAT however he is getting on a bit in age. And am not fully sure if he is up for stud or not.
Hips: 4/4=8
CEA – CLEAR
eye test – clear.

His father also had 0/0 hips.

Now, Once I have her final health test result I will know if stud dog 2 is in the running or not.

My question is....how do I approach them? What do I say?
Also how important is it to line breed? I mean, stud dog 1 was suggested by Alaska's breeder as she didnt want me to "outcross to far". But I have seen some beautiful dogs from outcrossing to other lines.

Thanks in advance.

Well if health tests are all ok then the questions I would be asking to whittle it down are.

What are you hoping to achieve?

What are Alaska's faults?

What are her good points?

Have you seen and of the offspring of these studs?

Have you seen any siblings/half siblings?

If not, then I'd get out there and see them.

You can't really base your choice on a paper pedigree.

Thanks,

I love stud 1 but I really like the other studs too however I dont know how Alaska's breeder will take to me outcrossing when she doesnt want me to.

I would contact them when you get Alaskas results. Then enquire about using their dog for stud servicing. I would explain its not until Oct/Nov and she has been tested and you are looking for an experienced stud as yours in a maiden....because you already know you want a dog with natural ears I would ask about the ears, size of stud, if the have any pictures of previous pups and if you could get together to make sure the pedigrees compliment each other. It's a start anyway....

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(Justice was not served for Lyle)(Value of a Human life by the Canadian Justice system 835 days)

You obviously need to like the stud you are planning to use , but it is more important that they are compatible, that you know what they are likely to throw, what needs improving on Alaska and what are her strong points in order to see if they will be a good match.

Does Alaska have a breeding endorsement? Is her input needed re choice of stud before she will lift endorsements? How experienced is she? Line breeding seems to be much more commonly used in show dogs (not that there aren't line bred working dogs, but it's not considered in the same way as it seems to be with show dogs), and IMO isn't the be all and end all. You do need to know the dogs you are using though.
I would ask her advice - if you have good reasons to use your chosen stud dog and they are valid ones, I can't see her problem with it, but there has to be a bit more than 'I love the dog'.

She is not endorsed no.
She is experienced (about 30 years).
However she is not actually Alaska's breeder...Alaskas breeder passed away and her husband took over some of the dogs but sent them to the lady I got Alaska from to whelp. Alaska's actual breeder....I have never spoken to.
I dont believe he shows anymore either.

The stud's I am interested in the most are the ones that are actually DNA CEA tested as not many are and it has to be a tri dog as I would rather know what I am dealing with than not.

1. look at your bitches faults.
2. find a suitable stud that will hopefully correct these faults.
3. look at health tests
4. look at pedigrees
5 look at potential stud dogs offspring and what lines he was put to, be it line breeding or total out cross.
6. if she is not due in for 7/8 months you have plenty of time to look at potential studs off spring.
7 go to shows nd see potentail studs off spring in the ring
8. get evalution of your bitch.
is she worthy of mating? what will she add to the gene pool?
can't think of anything else at the moment lol

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love me love the dogs

I think you need to be a bit more specific on her good points and faults. If all you know about her is that her coat is "perfect" and she's slightly tall, then you are deluding yourself.

You need to look for a stud that can hopefully strengthen Alaska's weak points and still compliment her on her strong points in the next generation. I think if you (general) want to breed for a pup to show, you need to create a ringside prescence and get in the ring more and also be able to HARSHLY critique your own dog. Even down to the seemingly very smallest of details. Pigment in eyes, lips, and nose, the shape of the eyes, equal muzzle:skull ratio, ear and tail set, has all 42 teeth and scissor bite, spring of rib etc etc etc.

Can you list Alaska's faults extensively and then also list the positives of the studs that would hopefully correct these faults?

You may have the best matches on paper (pedigree and health testing), but what about the physical structure of each of the dogs in question and that of the previous two or three generations before that? You still have loads of time left to go and see each of these dogs in person and their offspring if you haven't already and go over them thoroughly and see their personalities/temperaments and whatnot.

Good luck.

isnt it better to outcross to add extra gens to the lines / genepool? than to keep line breeding?

also one may be on excellent type/quality and have a unknown pedigree
one may have a well known top pedigree but not be a good standard, cant really go by just peds ive learnt!

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Dog 2, 3 and 4 were not picked because of their pedigree but because of their sucess in teh ring and their health tests.

Dog 3 is only 12months old has won 5 best puppy and 1 best puppy best of breed. He has his JW.

Dog 1, 2 and 4 all have JW's.